Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects, Inc.

Our client, with whom we had worked on a number of projects over the years, enlisted our help in transforming her family’s beloved but deteriorating rustic summer retreat, built by her grandparents in the mid-1920’s, into a house that would be livable year-‘round. It had served the family well but needed to be renewed for the decades to come without losing the flavor and patina they were attached to. The house was designed by Ruth Adams, a rare female architect of the day, who also designed in a similar vein a nearby summer colony of Vassar faculty and alumnae. To make Treetop habitable throughout the year, the whole house had to be gutted and insulated. The raw homosote interior wall finishes were replaced with plaster, but all the wood trim was retained and reused, as were all old doors and hardware. The old single-glazed casement windows were restored, and removable storm panels fitted into the existing in-swinging screen frames. New windows were made to match the old ones where new windows were added. This approach was inherently sustainable, making the house energy-efficient while preserving most of the original fabric. Changes to the original design were as seamless as possible, compatible with and enhancing the old character. Some plan modifications were made, and some windows moved around. The existing cave-like recessed entry porch was enclosed as a new book-lined entry hall and a new entry porch added, using posts made from an oak tree on the site. The kitchen and bathrooms are entirely new but in the spirit of the place. All the bookshelves are new. A thoroughly ramshackle garage couldn’t be saved, and we replaced it with a new one built in a compatible style, with a studio above for our client, who is a writer.

Rénovation complète d'une maison familiale de 135 m2 dans les Yvelines

Inside Rénovation & Décoration d'intérieurs

Gilles de Caevel
Inspiration for a large country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Paris with a double-bowl sink, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, painted wood floors, no island and white floor.

Summer Cottage On The Bay

Mullman Seidman Architects

Summer cottage by Mullman Seidman Architects. © Mullman Seidman Architects
Small beach style u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, painted wood floors and no island.

Westwood Residence

JWT Associates

Custom face-frame cabinets and Caesarstone countertops.
Photo of an arts and crafts u-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances and painted wood floors.

San Rafael Eichler

Knocknock

Straight view of the stove Photo by Olga Soboleva
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury single-wall open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Award-Winning Sophisticated Farmhouse River Home

John McClain Design

Bookmatched marble island countertop. Light and dark grays combine in this updated farmhouse kitchen. Custom ceramic backsplash with metallic finish extends to the ceiling. Marble counters blend effortlessly with stainless steel appliances. Touches of red add just the right addition of color. Larry Taylor Photography

Edwards Residence

Geoff Chick & Associates

This is an example of a large beach style single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, painted wood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and exposed beam.

Kitchens

Jodie Cooper Design

Joel Barbita
Large scandinavian u-shaped open plan kitchen in Perth with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors and white cabinets.

Murphys Road - Living and Kitchen

Alex Fulton Design

Murphys Road is a renovation in a 1906 Villa designed to compliment the old features with new and modern twist. Innovative colours and design concepts are used to enhance spaces and compliant family living. This award winning space has been featured in magazines and websites all around the world. It has been heralded for it's use of colour and design in inventive and inspiring ways. Designed by New Zealand Designer, Alex Fulton of Alex Fulton Design Photographed by Duncan Innes for Homestyle Magazine

Taj Mahal Quartzite by Allure Natural Stone

Allure Natural Stone

Taj Mahal Quartzite by Allure Natural Stone, fabricated by Stonemode Granite
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Coto De Caza Custom Kitchen Remodel

Designer Kitchens

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, shaker cabinets, painted wood floors and an undermount sink.

1880s Victorian Farmhouse Kitchen - Before and After

Create Good Sinks

Create Good Sinks' 46" workstation sink (5LS46c) with two "Ardell" faucets from our own collection. This 16 gauge stainless steel undermount sink replaced the dinky drop-in prep sink that was in the island originally. The oversized, single basin sink with two tiers lets you slide cutting boards and other accessories along the length of the sink. Seen here with several accessories to make the perfect party bar and snack station. Midnight Corvo matte black quartz counters.

Wohnhaus 1812

von Moltke Innenarchitekten

Open plan kitchen in Frankfurt with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, ceramic splashback, painted wood floors and with island.

Shoreditch Townhouse

Anouska Tamony Designs- Architecture & Interiors

An East London former artist's studio in the heart of Shoreditch was brought to life with a lively mix of classic Scandinavian design layered with punches of colour and pattern. Bespoke joinery sits alongside modern and antique furniture. A deco Venetian mirror adds sparkle in the Asian influenced sitting room which displays pieces sourced from as far afield as Malaysia and Hong Kong. Indian textiles and a handwoven beni ourain carpet from Marrakech give the bedroom a relaxed bohemian feel, with simple bespoke silk blinds commissioned for the large lateral windows that span the room. In the bathroom the simple Fired Earth tiles sing. A couple of carefully chosen accessories found in a Parisian market add a dash of je ne sais quoi.

Colombaia

Riccardo Caracciolo design&services

Small country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, no island, beige floor, orange benchtop and exposed beam.

Kitchen Project

Solus

1880s Victorian Farmhouse Kitchen - Before and After

Create Good Sinks

"During" photo shows both Create Good Sinks workstation sinks and faucets, oversized pendant lights, black and white quartz countertops.
Large eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Cincinnati with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, brown cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, painted wood floors, with island, yellow floor and black benchtop.

A splash of color

Terri Sears, Kitchen and Bath Designer

Photo of an expansive eclectic u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Nashville with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, painted wood floors, with island, blue floor and white benchtop.

Curtis Park, CA

Kristen Elizabeth Design

A cute mission style home in downtown Sacramento is home to a couple whose style runs a little more eclectic. We elevated the cabinets to the fullest height of the wall and topped with textured painted mesh lit uppers. We kept the original soapstone counters and redesigned the lower base cabinets for more functionality and a modern aesthetic. All painted surfaces including the wood floors are Farrow and Ball. What makes this space really special? The swing of course!

Kitchen Renovation

Studio M London

With a full kitchen renovation, we installed new cabinets and equipment, boxing in the fridge and tiling the backsplash. We then made these elements pop by adding a darker paint colour to the walls, doors and ceilings. Finally we elevated the space by sourcing vintage handles, a waxed oak countertop, brass taps and a feature pendant light.

Kitchen with Ceramic Splashback and Painted Wood Floors Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!